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A blog written from the point of view of a martial arts beginner, which I am. You can find the full blog at http://yghmartialarts.blogspot.com. Here on AikiWeb, I'll post only those entries which are relevant to aikido.

On the days when I'm not actually training in the dojo or dojang, I work out in my apartment complex's aforementioned gym. Besides my original goal of losing weight (I lost 30 pounds of my intended 40 and seem to have have hit a plateau since then), I think of it as a martial artist's duty to take care of his body and make sure he is in shape to practice his art.

But what does that mean, exactly? For sure, I need the flexibility to properly perform techniques and the endurance to train them repeatedly. But what else? Do I need the chiseled torso of Bruce Lee? The lean, powerful legs of Jean-Claude Van Damme? The bulging arms of a UFC heavyweight champion?

No doubt, it would be great to see these things in the mirror, and my wife would certainly appreciate them. But (a) are these things really a necessary part of being a dedicated martial artist, and (b) are they worth the time and effort I would have to put in to achieve them?

My wife thinks I already spend too much time in the gym. She's probably right. We rarely get a whole evening together at home anymore, and it seems a little selfish of me to take an hour-and-a-half of that time and devote it entirely to myself. What's more, even the hour-and-a-half isn't anywhere near enough to turn me into a fitness model.

Like most things, it seems this quandry comes down to deciding what's important.

It is important that I don't go back to being the out-of-shape slob I was before I started martial arts training. It is important that my physical fitness be at a level that keeps me at my best in the dojo or dojang. But it is also important that I have plenty of time to sit on the couch and watch TV with my arm around my wife's shoulders.

I like to think that I might accomplish all three of these important things with a well-planned 45-minute workout routine. That's my next goal.

Hi Matt, I agree with Billy, the family is the most important, but you also must have your own time. You don't need to look like Bruce Lee or Van Damme to be a good aikidoka, to be in a good physical form, it is not necessary to spend the whole time in the gym, you can also do something with your wife like walking or jogging together or another sport your wife likes.

I like your blog, I try to read it whenever I have a chance. It is inspiring to me and I second the points Billy makes. Thanks Matt and Billy I will show today's blog entry and comments to my husband when he gets back from work. We will be training together and glad to know you agree about the other aspects in life.

Hi Matt; Martial arts and fitness regime is part of your life and who you are. For life to be good there has to be balance. Good balance should begin with family and the significant other in your life; they should always come first followed by how you make your living. Find the balance, spending more time with your wife benefits and gives purpose to your training. It's like watching training when you are unwell, watching can sometime be more beneficial than the actual training. Kindest Billy